Your Summer Driving Checklist
With more bank holidays approaching and long summer days to be enjoyed, plenty of us will be taking road trips to the coast, country or even further afield. Before you set off on your journey, it is essential to make sure that your vehicle is ready for the extra mileage you may be driving. Now is the perfect time to give your vehicle a once over, particularly if you are going to be completing longer journeys than normal. Here you will find our summer driving checklist of everything you should check out before you embark on your journey.
Tyres
Looking after your tyres is essential when it comes to keeping safe on the roads before you set off on your journey or start enjoying the summer road trips, you should check the tread depth on all 4 of them. The legal minimum tyre tread depth is 1.6mm.
You should also check for general wear and tear of the tyre, speak to a tyre specialist if you have any concerns they will be able to advise you accordingly.
You should also ensure that the air pressure is correct, you can fill your tyres with air at the majority of petrol stations and you can also find the right tyre pressure with a simple online search of your vehicle’s make and model.
Oil Check
You can ensure the smooth running of your car by carrying out regular checks of the quantity and condition of the oil in your engine, it is recommended that you complete this on a monthly basis and before any long journey.
You can check that you have enough oil in your engine, using the dipstick in your engine. Just make sure that the engine is turned off and cool before you check. Wipe the dipstick clean with a cloth and then fully insert back into the engine, re
move the dipstick and check the oil level against the markings on the stick.
While this will vary from engine to engine, there should be two marks one high and one low, as long as the oil level when you remove the dipstick is in the middle of these 2 marks, you are good to go. If your oil is low, simply add some oil BUT make sure it is the right oil for your car.
Coolant
Coolant keeps things cool in the summer and acts as an antifreeze in the winter. It is important to keep a track of how much engine coolant you have.
Screen Wash and Wipers
Before you set off on any long journey, you should ensure that your screenwash is topped up, the last thing you want is to be caught on a motorway with a dirty windscreen. We would also recommend keeping some screenwash in the boot in case you should run out.
You should examine your windscreen wipers too, if they are leaving streaks across the windscreen or you notice any damage to the rubber, it is time to replace them.
Carwash and Valet
We all like to think that we keep our vehicles looking smart and brand new, but let’s be honest, it’s not always easy. You could take this opportunity to treat your vehicle to a thorough clean inside and out.
You can take your vehicle to a top class valet, who will leave the inside and the outside looking like a showroom car again.
